Apparatus for concentrating ores



(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1.

H. B. MEBGH;

APPARATUS FOR GONGENTRATING ORES. 7

No. 251,913. A Patented Jan. 3,1882.

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2:

H. B. MEECH.

APPARATUS FOR GONGENTRATING 0113s.

,No. 251,913. I Patented Jan. 3,1882.

W7513JEZ .Zvenfar M if fi m/ JZZLQLW It UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRISON B. MEEGH, OF OHATHAM, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,913,da.ted January 3, 1882. Application filed October 121881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRISON B. Manon, of Ghatham, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Concentrating Ores; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, .which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a ore-concentrating machine in which the fineor pulverized ore or tailings may be separated and concentrated from the slush as they flow down the sluice-box, the flow or fall of the water and ore giving motion to a wheel which moves the screen or endless apron, and thereby concentrating the heavy ore in a. vat. I obtain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top view, looking into the bottom of the sluice-heir. Fig. 3 is an end view of the double vat and sluice-box. Fig. 4 showsthe relative arrangement of the copper plates and their shape. Fig. 5 is a modification of Fig. 1, showing a perforated shaking screen in the place of the endlessapron. Fig.6 is a top view of the perforated shaking screen.

In Fig. 1, A represents the vat to receive the concentrated ore; B, the sluice-box on an incline, so that the water will pass freely through it; and D is the undershot waterwheel, so arranged that its fans or buckets are within the sluice-box, so that as the water, slush, and era are flowing through it they strike the fans of the water-wheel and move them around, giving power to belt or chain E, which revolves pulley F, which pulley moves the apron H in the opposite direction to the flow of the water. The endless apron H is carried on rollers E and forms the bottom of the sluice-box at that section where a portion of the bottom is removed, so that when the ore or tailings are flowing down through the sluice-box the heavy part drops down upon the apron and is carried into the vat A. The lighter part or slime flows on through the sluice-box and is carried away. The apron or screen and the bottom of the sluice-box are immersed in the water in the vat, which is keptnearly full. The heavy ore will concentrate on the apron by its own gravity. Thence being carried around underneath the apron, it (lrops'olf and settles into the var. The apron can be made of cloth, rubber, or slats of wood, iron, or copper plates. The fans of the water wheel may be lined with galvanized copper plates, so that it may catch the light floatmetals in amalgam.

Fig. 4 shows a nest of concave galvanized copper strips, N, which are tobe placed in the sluice-box, as shown in Fig. 1,for catching the light float metals-gold or silver-and 'to act as ahrake on the water. Copper strips may be attached to the side of the sluice-box for the same purpose, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows a double vat and sluice-boxes so constructed that while the one is working the otherone can be drained and the concen trated ore taken out, and vice versa. I

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification. In the place of the endless apron a perforated shaking screen, H, is used, and is moved back and forth by crank and piston-shaft K, and has a lateral motion by side cams, the heavy oresifting through the perforated slats in the vat A. The perforated screen may be made of sheet iron or copper. This machine maybe run by any convenient power instead of the llow of the water in the sluice-box.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. The combination of the vat, the sluicearranged upon its top, a wheel arranged in the sluice, a connecting band or chain, and an endless apron which is moved by the wheel so as to drop its load in the tank, substantially as described.

2. In aconcentrating machine, the combination of a vat, a sluice arranged thereon and having its lower edge or bottom submerged in the water of the vat, an operating-Wheel placed in the sluice and operated by the flow through the sluice, and moving device placed in the bottom of the sluice and operated by the wheel, the said moving device being submerged in the wattr of the vat, substantially as specificd.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

H. .B. MEEOH.

Witnesses:

F. A. LEHMANN, W. W. MORTIMER. 

